The EU first adopted restrictive measures against the Russian Federation back in 2014, in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and the destabilisation of Ukraine. Since then, the EU has massively expanded the sanctions, following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and its decision to recognise the non-government-controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as … Continue Reading
The current pandemic situation in the Slovak Republic caused by fast-spreading coronavirus disease (COVID-19) raised several challenging issues for Slovak employers. The aim of this alert is to provide answers to some of the most frequent employment law related questions that worry the employers and provide them with lead on how to handle this tense … Continue Reading
Between 23 and 26 May 2019, more than 400 million European citizens will have the right to vote in the European Parliament elections. This is where the similarities between the CEE countries seem to end. Voters in the Czech Republic will be voting on 24 and 25 May 2019, in Slovak Republic on 25 May … Continue Reading
On Friday 29 March 2019, the Economic University in Bratislava hosted the recurring session of the Center for Financial Innovations established by the Slovak Ministry of Finance. We participate in these sessions, along with other representatives of academics, banks and fintech companies. The focus of the event was a discussion related to the EU’s action … Continue Reading
When two do the same, it is not the same. This old saying is true especially when comparing legal regulations in different countries. Businesses that are present in various jurisdictions sometimes tend to expect the same, when, at first glance, the regulation seems to be similar.… Continue Reading
On 1 October 2018, the amendment to the Slovak Cadastral Act came into effect. The Amendment introduced a number of provisions that speed up and improve the registration of real estate with the Cadastral Register. Selected provisions of the Amendment are outlined below.… Continue Reading
If there is a holy book for finance lawyers, at least on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, it would be the Loan Market Association (LMA) standard form. Aimed to improve liquidity and efficiency in the syndicated loan markets in EMEA, the recommended standard forms developed by the LMA are here to stay. Although intended … Continue Reading
On 8 March 2018, the European Commission (EC) published its long-awaited new FinTech Action Plan. The EC understands FinTech to be technology-enabled innovation in financial services, and the strategy covers developments related to new technologies which are changing the financial industry and the way consumers and firms access services. At the same time, the action … Continue Reading
The Slovak Ministry of Justice was very busy last year, and the recent amendment to the Commercial Code introduces a number of provisions that are aimed at fixing local malpractice related to mergers and liquidation of companies, use of “straw men” as executives and the impact of bad decisions of shareholders on the local affiliates. … Continue Reading
As of January 1, 2018, those who are obliged to file a petition for declaration of bankruptcy of a company will face stricter liability in Slovakia, which could even result in their disqualification to sit on boards of Slovak companies.… Continue Reading
Are you already a board member or executive of a Slovak company or about to become one? If so, you should know about the proposed amendment to the Slovak Commercial Code. The amendment aims to address the so-called “white horses” and “tunneling (asset stripping)” of the companies. The amendment should come into force on 1 January 2018. As … Continue Reading
If you are a real estate developer or are going to build a family house in Slovakia, your costs may increase due to new “development fee” introduced by the Act No. 447/2015 Coll. on Local Fee for Development and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts (the “Act”). The Act gives the municipalities a right … Continue Reading
Recently, the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic (the “Ministry”) published a draft of amendment to the Slovak Commercial Code (the “Draft Amendment”) for public consultation. The Draft Amendment contains numerous substantial changes which we will discuss in series of separate blog posts. This post will look at the provisions relating to capital funds … Continue Reading
The Central Government Portal The creation of the Central Government Portal (CGP) has signaled the beginning of the digitalization of Slovakia. The CGP is an information system designed to provide users with official electronic communication with public authorities and with centralized and unified access to information resources through a single entry point. Over the course … Continue Reading
If you are or will be doing business with Slovak state, local government, municipality or a legal entity financed or controlled by the state, or you are receiving EU funds, as of February 1, you must be registered in the new Register of Public Sector Partners (the “Register”) and disclose your ultimate beneficial owners (UBO). … Continue Reading
I was driven to write this article by two pieces of seemingly unrelated information. The first was the fact that, in the Czech Republic – after adoption of the last substantial amendment to the Czech Labor Code – there is currently another substantial and apparently complex amendment to the Czech Labor Code in progress. The second … Continue Reading
The system of investment protection is experiencing radical changes at the level of the European Union (EU). While so far, the protection of foreign investments was guaranteed by bilateral agreements, this is about to change and a unified multilateral system is proposed to be established. How does this initiative influence investor-to-state dispute settlement mechanism (ISDS)? … Continue Reading
Starting from March 1, 2017, the Slovak personal insolvency regime will change. The new system aims to make personal insolvency available to a wider debtor audience, while keeping it simple and cost efficient. Today, only individuals with assets over €1,659.70 can seek declaration of bankruptcy. Otherwise, the proceedings could be stopped and the doors to … Continue Reading
Since entry into the European Union in 2004, CEE countries have gradually adapted to the applicability of European Union laws and the European Union’s system of transnational independent institutions – both of which directly or indirectly influence the business environment in individual member states. It is, however, the European Commission’s representation and promotion of the … Continue Reading
